New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-26
MIDWAY AND TIE GRAND JURY.
HIS ADVICE TO THE JURORS ABOUT INDIcriNG THE
sHERIPF-w c. BEECHERs TESTIMONY.

HIS ADVICE TO THE JURORS ABOUT INDiCriNG TIKI
sHERIPF-w. c. BEECHERs TESTIMONY.
Assemblyman Bacons Brooklyn Investigating Com
mittee Yesterday examined several new Witnesses
among them william @. Beeoher, counsel for the
Society for tho Suppression OF Vice, and ex-Shcrf
Stepman District Attorney Ridgway was also re-
called Further information In regard TO his attitude
before the Grand Jury of June, 1876, first given
Cbester b Lawrence oroborated tho evidence given
on Monday by another member OF the Grand Jury
that the advised the Jurors that 1t
would be dangerous 10 ndiet the Sheriff. as the ndfct
rucpt would remove the Sheriff rom Ofhce and cut Oh
all his emOlumrnts.
Judge Greene, Of tho committee, tried to keep out
ths idence under the oath taken Oy Grand Jurors,
bat he Was not sustained. milar testimony was
gwen against Mr. Ridgway by George w. Seeye,
foreman OF the same Grand Jury. lie asked lawyer
oont tbe District Attorne 8 advice and told that
il was not good law Accordingly the DstrictAtorney
was sent tor by the Grand Jury again, and he repeated
the same statement and read from law book The
matter related pooi-sellng. Peter iageman gave
similar evidence to the matters before the Grand
jury SO did Glenn Cuyler.
William G. Beecher questioned as to his know l.
edge OF olselling at Coney Island He said thar he
had spoken to District Attorney Rid9way ABOUT sup
pressing it twenty or thirty times. lie empnaucai,iy
and Mr. Rigway to suspend action in pool-selling
c,ses pending the decision OF the Court OF Appeals
He urged Mr. Rdgway to prosecute the cases IN when
cvidence had been secured. ana when MIR. Ridgway
failed to do So charges against him were preferred TO
Gnycrnor Cleveland Mr. Ridgway promised to do
bet er and they were WltnuraWn huRWay scHb
letter TO the under Date OF February TO- 1889,
promising to suppress ooseing, hut as soon as the
irost was out OF the ground the poosellinX began
M Jain Mr. Brecher said that the District Attorney
had full power to stop the pool gambling at Coney
island whenever he desired TO do 80.
Serceant-at-Arms Scott testified that he was unable
10 secure the attendance OF George ii. Engcman and
A. H. Battersby. OF the Brighton Beach Racing Asso-
ciation Us they in New-Jersey Ii. +. Van Sobn,
foreman OF the July Grand jury said that there was
tlk in that body of indictng Dstrct-Attorney Ridg
way: hat he appeared before them aud said that he
had done all in his power TO suppress poo selling aud
had tried more than his prcdec so no in
d ctmcnt was found. the pool selling was stopped
while the tirand Jury III session, and went on
after they adiournel. tx Sheriff Lewis X. Stegman
told the committee how he arrested twenty-hree pool
se ers on bench warrants 10 1883 one OF the prs
oners was Supervisor John Y. Mckanc and another
Paul Baner Mr. Stegman also questioned about
the fees OF his Office, which the same ~ they are
to-day. lie promised 10 give today detailed state
how he disposed OF the money lie claimed that some
OF his subordinaes ana not make honest returns 10
him. ,
District Attorney Ridgway was recalled and asked
about the poo selling in the Court OF Oyer and
rermne, whio are pen ling. He declared that II any
one CHARGED him with deliberately giving iale inter
pretaton of the law TO the Grand Jury II WIS a false
hoo l. lie told the Grand jury that the conviction OF
the Sheriff would de- rive him OF his office aud its
emouu nts, and the Grand Jurors might cOniound in
dirmeut and conviction.
About the only amusing thing in the proceedings was
when Colonel Bacon asked Mr.. Ridg IT he know
ANYTHING about IA racehorsc nan ell jim Kidgway. The
Die trict Attorne, replied " once heard OF HIM AMI
that be had the pad habit OF always coming in last in
race 49, 80
q" Not like his illustrious prototype said W. W.